Contour surgery in the patient with great weight loss

Obesity can be defined as a chronic disease in which there is excess of bod y adiposity, leading to severe secondary health problems. This metabolic pa thology shortens life-span and is a main cause of diabetes, atherosclerosis , systemic arterial hypertension, and reduction of pulmonary function, amon g others. The plastic surgeon is involved with the obese patient under two circumstances: either the patient is currently overweight and requests redu ction of excess adipose tissue, or has suffered a great weight loss and des ires correction of one, or more, contour deformities. In either case, plann ing demands a close preoperative analysis and careful preparation of the pa tient, execution of a meticulous surgical routine, and close postoperative follow-up. In this article, various body contour deformities will be addres sed, showing the senior author's strategy in treating the obese patient tha t has achieved the loss of considerable weight.